The First of Peter

4 Since Christ suffered in the flesh,+ you too arm yourselves with the same mental disposition;* because the person who has suffered in the flesh has desisted from sins,+2 so that he may live the remainder of his time in the flesh, no more for the desires of men,+ but for God’s will.+3 For the time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have done the will of the nations+ when you carried on in acts of brazen conduct,* unbridled passions, overdrinking, wild parties,* drinking bouts, and lawless idolatries.+4 They are puzzled that you do not continue running with them in the same decadent course of debauchery, so they speak abusively of you.+5 But these people will render an account to the one who is ready to judge those living and those dead.+6 In fact, this is why the good news was declared also to the dead,+ so that although they are judged in the flesh from the standpoint of men, they might live in harmony with the spirit from God’s standpoint.

7 But the end of all things has drawn close. Therefore, be sound in mind,+ and be vigilant* with a view to prayers.+8 Above all things, have intense love for one another,+ because love covers a multitude of sins.+9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.+10 To the extent that each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God’s undeserved kindness that is expressed in various ways.+11 If anyone speaks, let him do so as speaking pronouncements from God; if anyone ministers, let him do so as depending on the strength that God supplies;+ so that in all things God may be glorified+ through Jesus Christ. The glory and the might are his forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved ones, do not be surprised about the fiery trials that you are experiencing,+ as though something strange were happening to you. 13 On the contrary, go on rejoicing+ over the extent to which you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ,+ so that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory.+14 If you are being reproached* for the name of Christ, you are happy,+ because the spirit of glory, yes, the spirit of God, is resting upon you.

15 However, let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a wrongdoer or a busybody in other people’s matters.+16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed,+ but let him keep on glorifying God while bearing this name. 17 For it is the appointed time for the judgment to start with the house of God.+ Now if it starts first with us,+ what will the outcome be for those who are not obedient to the good news of God?+18 “And if the righteous man is being saved with difficulty, what will happen to the ungodly man and the sinner?”+19 So, then, let those who are suffering in harmony with the will of God keep on entrusting* themselves* to a faithful Creator while they are doing good.+